An unofficial news blog for Neil Young fans from Thrasher's Wheat with concert and album updates, reviews, analysis, and other Rock & Roll ramblings. Separating the wheat from the chaff since 1996.

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Unraveling Neil Young - Popcast: NYTimes.com

This is not your standard rock journalists shooting the breeze, but some rather heavy analysis of what Young has delivered in 2012. David Carr, Jon Pareles and Ben Ratliff talk about his live sound, his new album with Crazy Horse (“Psychedelic Pill”) his book, his sobriety, his paradoxical embrace of precision and mystery and his model-train barn.

You may recall, David Carr did a major profile in the New York Times Magazine earlier this Fall which made quite a few headlines.

Maybe I should follow Neil a little bit more... Poured me a nice Single Malt whisky (and stop drinking, although I do not drink alcohol daily), and listening to PP. Did not even crank up the volume, just a moderate level, allowing me say something now and then to my wife (if necessary). After 3-4 listenings just notice :-Lot of Le Noise influences (just play LN and immediately after it PP)-Sound is great, rally fills the air and creates echoes in the room-Drifting back's lyrics are not Neil's best. I would even say "rather weak", compared to other great "jam" songs he wrote-Ramada Inn gets better and better eveery time I hear it.-For the Love of Man is a "hidden Jewel". Great, pure song.-Twisted Road always makes me feel happy. Just a song full of joy, a happy song.-Walk like a Giant is a new LAH. A song he will "re-invent" during shows, love that whisteling chorus.-Born in Ontario :is indeed a happy song. Love the Pump Organ in it (Seems to be repaired ?)-She's always dancing : sorry, but they will not get me warm.But that sound, just stop making cd's and get everything back on vinyl, what a sound. Heard it in the Horseback Jam, Americana, and here too. It really fills the air. Just love it...Just loves the man...and his music...and his coming to Europe next year.

Have a peaceful, christmas full of joy, hug the ones you love, and best wishes for a better 2013.Certainly to Trasher & Trashette for their great work here at TW !!

WLAG is a giant like LAH, but the thing is too that your new stuff can't be the signature of your career, it's got to age. Those first impressions and introductions are typically the defining barometer which measures all the work. Always compared to that which exists. Thankfully as Neil reinvents(?) himself those barometers of comparison broaden to include more of the catalogue of his work. And now for those who have always been into it, we have proof that it actually all is one song. One song of the heart and mind and soul, personified by the changing times and people, the earth spinning, the calendar rolling forward. But in the end, all a familiar chorus of diversity and feeling. It reminds me of the long term love between folks, husaband and wives, brothers and sisters, and your longest truest friends, how all that they are keeps growing new, yet bears the inner fabric and dna of what is already known. The 10 foot wide tree that is still the young sapling that stood straight at the beginning and has weathered the time and circumstances it has seen. Always recognizable. We are very lucky to have the longevity of Neil staying pure to and in tune with his passion. A real gift he has and we have been given.